Results made available online by the secretary of state's office showed ballots were cast by about 3.1 million people, or about 40 percent of the roughly 7.75 million registered voters in Ohio. County elections boards also reported about 161,000 outstanding absentee and provisional ballots.

Statistics kept by the state show turnout has ranged from about 48 percent to 62 percent for Ohio's midterm elections since 1978, when that type of tabulation began. Turnout was about 49 percent for Ohio's last midterm election, when Republican Gov. John Kasich was elected for his first term in 2010.

Republicans retained that and other statewide offices in this week's election.